Paris 16.10.09

Paris, even though I have yet a lot to discover and a lot of French to learn before I feel completely at peace, has started to feel a lot like home.  I went on a run today to a garden nearby and as I crossed a bride, I thought, wow, this feels so normal now, I know exactly where I am and exactly where I am going, and if I want, can change it up a bit, take a different path, and will still know where I’m at.  And what a good feeling that is.  Especially since in the beginning I was trying to remember, right, left, big statue, right by the café, etc.  Now I’m starting to piece together what I once thought was an impossible tangle of metro lines, famous monuments and quirky neighborhoods into something that, if I had to, could map out on a piece of paper with a nice little compass rose and key.

I wish I had my camera to snag a picture, but it was beautiful when I was walking the last two blocks back (I even extended my route so I could enjoy the scene for a bit longer). The sky was starting to get gray, but the was still a bit of the sunset left over the river to the left, just right around the Eiffel Tower. It was pretty picturesque.

Fall has finally hit here.  The air is crisp and chilly, and as much as I love the heat, and would prefer to be somewhere warm, there is just something romantic and fun about bundling up under layers of sweaters and scarves and then setting forth out into the cold air with whatever the destination be in mind.  Tonight though, with the sun setting it wasn’t quite as romantic as it could have been since I was still panting from the last little sprint across the bridge and was dressed in a sweaty t-shirt and pants, but you get the idea, the city is beautiful right now and people are still very much out and about taking advantage of it.

I have been dedicated to walking everywhere I can lately and I am really, really enjoying it.  I have developed several new appreciations/respects because of it (for time, for my legs and feet getting me where I need to go, for scarves and gloves that make it a lot more enjoyable since this new icy temperature has decided to set in, for good fast public transport that is there when I need it and then just that everyone else is out their walking too).  I have to say it has also helped me with my sense of direction as well.  The metro is nice, but you get in, you go underground, and you pop up somewhere else, but you have no idea what you just missed in between the two destinations and sometimes the stuff in between is the best part.

It’s weird because back at home if someone asked if I wanted to walk a good 30 minutes to get to school and then another 30 coming home, I would say they were crazy, but here I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I’m trying to picture what the streets of Yakima or Spokane would look like if everyone didn’t have cars (granted it would be a lot different since it is not tightly condensed Paris, but still).  I know people at GU (and have been guilty a time or two myself) who drive from one side of campus to the gym on the other when it is cold to skip out on the maybe ten-minute walk.  I guess I will have to let you know how my walking here goes when it starts to get really cold come December, but I think I’ve been converted.

 

Other cool things I have noticed:

A lot of dads and really cute kids.  I thought I might have been imaging it, but another friend brought it up as well.  We always see a ton of dads out spending time with their kids.  And I’m not saying that dads don’t hang out with their children in the U.S., but normally I remember seeing kids out on the streets, in parks, etc with their mom or another female, but its been the opposite here.  I have seen hardly any moms out with their kids (or maybe just haven’t noticed cause I’m so used to it) except on the way to walk them to school.  Hannah and I were out the other day and the fathers with their little ones where everywhere—there were dads on bikes with their kids on the back enjoying the weather, dads walking around with their kid on their shoulders, dads out with their kid in the park, dads with their kids listening to music on the bridge, etc, etc.  I think it might be that people don’t get out as much in the States because we have things like back yards to play in, but it is still really cool seeing everyone out and about spending time together.

Ha, the dogs here also crack me up.  If I was a dog in Paris I would be thrilled when it was time to go for a walk, because they don’t exactly have a bunch of space to romp around in when they are inside, but the dogs here seem like they don’t want to move.  I feel like I see a lot of owners half-dragging their dogs down the street when you would think it would be the other way around.  Sometime the dog will just sit there and the owner will just keep right on going—poor little puppy scooting along on his butt behind.
Eeh, one thing I don’t like though is that you have to be careful where you step because I have only ever seen two people clean up their dogs business, and have seen more than two people step what the other owners didn’t clean up.

Window-shopping actually exists here—the bigger and more extravagant the display the better.  We went past a shop that supposedly has some of the best displays, and I was pretty amazed.  It had a display with different jewelry and the rocks that when you break them open have the crystals inside, but MASSIVE sized ones, I wish I had taken a picture because it was pretty cool.  The prices for everything in the display are also neatly written below each item (the giant rocks were not for sale…I looked), which is nice if you’re like me, and want to know if you even have a chance of being able to afford something before you even go into the store.  I can’t decide if I like it or not yet.  It’s fun seeing the best of what each store has to offer, but at the same time I’m always thinking, ‘ooh, I like that’ or ‘I want to get me a pair of those’. And do I really need any of it? Probably not, but the temptation is definitely stronger when you walk by it all day long.

I found a new love at the little boulangerie by my university.  It is called tarte myrtille which, thanks to my handy dictionary that I carry around with me at all times, I found out was a bilberry tart.  I don’t know if you guys are familiar with bilberries, but I definitely didn’t know of their existence prior to coming here, but this little tart thing is fabulous and that is saying something when there are chocolate croissants, fresh éclairs, and other delectables just waiting to be eaten and I always get the same thing.  If John’s marionberry pie and a huckleberry had a child, this would be it.  If I could send one back I would ;)

And I think that is about it for the Paris update.  Two weekends ago I went with the GU group to Mont-Saint-Michel which was very cool, you should check out pictures on facebook, or at least google image it, it’s worth a look.  And we also stopped at St. Malo which was fun.  Mom, you would have been amazed, I could have had anything on the menu at this Crèperie we went to and I chose a bucket of mussels.  They were what that place was famous for and so I had to get them. Surprisingly, they were really tasty considering small chewy things in shells are not my normal cup-of-tea.  They were served with French fries too, which made it even better.  They do that with steak here too which makes me laugh a bit since I’m so used to seeing fries only served with fast-food type stuff, not French delicacies.  I like it though, fries as a side it definitely work.

School is going well. I have officially been here a month and I feel like my French is coming along, but that it is not where I would like it to be.  But that just means more studying I guess, which isn’t bad cause I really enjoy it.

Yesterday I celebrated start to my weekend and went to a pretty sweet graffiti exhibition, also another thing you should Google, called “Né dans la rue” (Born on the streets) at the Cartier Foundation.  They brought in ten well-know artists from around the world to paint pieces, and then had a bunch of history, films, fotos, screens with interviews, etc up.  I really didn’t know any of the story behind graffiti and so it was really interesting learning about it and finally realizing, ‘oh, that’s what that is’ or ‘that’s why they did that’.  If anyone’s interested they should ask me more about it, but it is getting late here and so I should probably go to bed.

I miss you all and hope you all are doing wonderful.  Take care, enjoy the month of October and fall!  

Lots of love sent your way, Court.

Paris, France:

19.09.09.

I live on the 4th floor of this old building in the heart of the city.
Living on the 4th floor in France really means living on the 5th floor and so considering the building is sans elevator and I make the walk a hundred times a day I am getting in great shape.

I ate a typical French plate today of raw ground beef and liked it.
I get a bit queasy even thinking about making hamburger patties and so when the giant cold blob of raw meat was put in front of me on a plate decorated with salad and potatoes and I dug into with my fork, I have to say, I was pretty impressed with myself.

Paris is beautiful. It is big, easy to get around in by metro, easy to get lost in on foot and the architecture is very picturesque.

The French people I have meet so far have been extremely nice which goes against what I have been hearing my entire life.
It makes me happy when negative stereotypes turn out to be not entirely true.

Everything tends to be a bit smaller here.
I remember having seen three overweight people (and I’m not even sure if they were French),
The café is strong and served in little cups.
Lunch takes hours to eat.
Sitting and enjoying your food and the company you are with for a long time is fabulous.
We’ve been eating three course meals, but the portions are smaller and so when you leave you are not stuffed, but feeling just right.
The cars are small; the streets are smaller.
I amazed at their parking skills.
I don’t know how they do it, but the cars are literally touching end to end.
I have no idea how you would get out.

Speaking French is a constant challenge, but I am loving it.
I am sure I sound like a three year old.
Or worse.
But I just keep telling myself that it can only get better.
School hasn’t started yet, but I am excited for it too as nerdy as that sounds.

I miss you guys a lot and think about you all often.
I hope all going well and I’m excited to hear from you.
I want to write little personal messages to you all and will, but want to avoid doing the copy and paste thing so I will put the general stuff here.

Hugs,

Courtney

Fotos

Hey everyone. Here are a few of the million pics we have be taking. This first one is of part of our group from Gonzaga and a friend thats going to teach Spanish for Teach for America in NC. in Teotihuacan. Were sitting on top of the Sun Pyramid which had an amazing view of the surrounding area. It was a nice little hike to the top, but nothing compared to the Inca Trail. I'd have to say that nothing was like that with a backpack.
Almost all of our lovely group as a whole (were missing Amy) but starting from the top left we have Lauren, Taylor, John, Luis, Haley, Nick, Katie, Noelle, Me and Caitlin.
On the way down. You can see how touristy the is was (not my favorite thing, but it was still cool being there).
Little one on the left is the Moon pyramid and the big one is the Sun pryamid.

Two of my favorite girls from GU and me halfway up la pyramide de la luna (moon)
Poor John being a good sport: holding bags and taking pictures with everyones cameras.
Mi querido Ivan y Luvic (my lovely Ivan and Luvic). These are two students from Acapulco that lived in the same house as us until last week when they went home for summer vacations. This was taken on Luvic's last night--we all went out dancing together. It was a blast and I miss them already (a promised trip has already been made to go visit them in Acapulco).
More of the ruins at Teotihuacan.
The other half of the GU group just chillin and enjoying the view.

In Mexico City where we went and saw a bunch of murals by Diego Rivera which were incredible. I'm not in love with everything he paints, but I'm a big fan these murals, I'll put up pictures later.
I thought this picture was a little ironic. In the foreground you can see the Temple Mayor which was the temple from which the Aztecs made their human sacrifices and in the backgroud you can see the cathedral that the Spaniards built. Any guesses to where they got the stones to build the cathedral? Yep, from the temple.
The next description is a little graffic so just be warned. See the hole at the top of the stone animal? Thats where the Aztecs put the beating hearts of the people they just sacrificied. They did this to feed their god because he in turn fed them. Its important to realize that the Aztec people thought it was a great honor to be sacrificed and that it meant a direct ticket to heaven, but at the same time they sacrificed people they captured in war and I don't think they had quick the same mentality.
On a happier note the museum trip was very educational (our guide was awesome) and we enjoyed goofing off in our free time. Me, Taylor and Noelle in front of a normally turned on fountain.

Ok, only have time to post these pics for now. Gotta run to lunch.
Hope all is well and I'll be back later to post more.
Besos,
Court.

Ya la segunda semana?

Hey everyone,

So I'm going to try to be better about keeping this thing updated as of today. I can't believe that I'm already in my second week here. Time goes by soo fast, but at the same time it feels like I have been here forever. I've already has to say good bye to good friends, already have my "cafe", places I like to go dancing, foods I like to eat, etc.

Quick recap on whats been going on and then the posts from here on will be a little more insightful and interesting. Promise.

So I got here Friday the 16th late and basically just went home and crashed. I live with a Mexican host mom, John (a friend from GU), a guy that just got here from Michigan named Scott, and until this week two students from other parts of Mexico whom were so much fun, Luvic and Ivan. Its really different from my host family in Peru. There I had a second family where as here I basically just rent a room in a house. Its fun though too, just different. I'm enjoying it.

Saturday all the GU kids had to be at the university early to take placement exams and go through orientation. UNINTER, the university we study at is quite beautiful--lots of green, fountains everywhere, birds chirping, etc. Add that to the warm sunny weather and you can see why the idea of being in class from 8-2 or later makes it a little difficult to concentrate sometimes.
Saturday afternoon was spent exploring el centro (downtown) and el zôcalo (which is what they call the main plaza). It was pretty sweet and extremely packed with people compared to the calmer plazas I was used to in Peru. There are two squares right next to each other. In one they had stage and a concert and in the other vendors selling food, balloons etc. People were everywhere-- sitting on one of the many benches just enjoying the day, strolling along with their families or significant other, etc. There is always something going on culturally too. Indigenous people were dressed up in their traditional clothes, playing music and dancing, while just across the way another crowd of people was watching older couples do some kids of slow dance (too me it looked like a really slow rumba, but I'm not sure). Then to the side of that they had a huge big rainbow banner where people were demonstrating against homophobia. I thought this was especially cool considering Mexico is a pretty conservative country and so homosexuality is a pretty hush hush issue.

Sunday the GU group went with some other kids from the university to the pyramids of Teotihuacan. I'll post those pics later and talk about them, but basically it was a pretty awesome trip. Sitting on top of the pyramids and looking around you can't help but wonder what that place was like when it was alive and kicking.

Monday-Friday was pretty much spent in class, doing homework or walking around exploring the city. John (the other GU student I live with) and I have a pretty sweet setup because we live within walking distance of both the school (about 8 minutes) and the downtown (about twenty minutes) so we have been walking everywhere.
Classes are going really well. I don't know how much my spoken Spanish is actually improving, but I am learning a ton. I have idiomatic expressions which teaches me all those important phrases that don't make sense when translated literally. Very important for someone wanting to really learn a language. Then I have Hispanic literature with a really great professor. He's one of those guys that not only knows his stuff, but has a real passion for teaching as well. I never though I would like a literature class (I'm not the biggest lit fan), but this class is awesome. We have assigned text we read the night before and then the prof goes into depth with what techniques each author uses, what is the authors background, underlying message, what makes it uniquely latino and how it compares to text from different countries, etc. We have gone over one of my favorite poets, Pablo Neruda, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez (another writer I really like). Now I have so much more appreciation from them and definitley have a better understanding of what is going on behind and in between the words. Its great. And then finally I have my grammar class. My professor for this class is also very good, super sweet lady. I'm finally at the point where the grammar is nothing new, but rather the class just goes over the technical things which is something I still really need to work on.
So that is pretty much what school is like. After school I've been to a few dance classes on campus for salsa, merengue and bachata. Thursday night John and I met up with a group of kids from the university at Mambo Cafe which is a disco where they bring in a live band. Super fun, but there was zero room to move because it was so packed.

Friday was a friends bday and then the despedida (goodbye party) of Luvic ( the girl from Acapulco that lived in our house) so she, Ivan (the other guy from Acapulco that lived with us), John and I all went out dancing basically till we couldn't dance any longer and then made our way to our favorite taco joint "La Gringa" for some early morning grub before heading off to bed. Let me just say that Mexican food is delicious-what we have in the states, although I love that too, just does not compare.

Saturday I spent the day sleeping and then John, Ivan and I went down to the zocalo. For dinner we decided to go check out Luvics favorite restaurant where they serve pozole. Pozole is a soup that has chicken or pork, big pieces of corn and then you add avocado, onion, radishes, and lettuce on top--muy sabroso (very tasty).

Sunday the GU group went to Mexico City. We went to see some of Diego Rivera's murals which I really liked (again I'll get pics up soon). Then we went to the main zocalo, checked out the cathedral and the main temple (actually just the base of it because it was destroyed by the Spanish) where the Aztecs made their human sacrifices. It was pretty ironic standing on the far side of the remaining ruins of the temple and then seeing the cathedral in the background which was built using the stones the Spanish took from the destroyed pyramid. It was like in Peru where the Spanish partially knocked down the Incan temples and then built their churches on top of the them. Sunday we also went to el Museo de Antropologia (Anthropology Museum) which I guess its one of the best and/or biggest in the world? I forget exactly what the guide said, but from someone who doesn't really like museums I thought it was pretty sweet. I definitely learned a lot. We had a really good guide.
Ok so that was Sunday.

Monday John and I went out to a little Italian joint by our house and threw a despedida for Ivan who left for Acapulco on the next morning.

Yesterday the GU kids all met up downtown and went to the Robert Brady Museum which was awesome. Robert Brady was a American who didn't have to work a day in his life (rich father) so he spent all his time traveling around the world and collecting art. It just so happens that his travels took him to Cuernavaca, which he soon fell in love with and so decided to move to. The museum is his house, which in itself it amazing--beautiful architecture, completely open (thanks to the eternal spring weather Cuernavaca boasts all year long). Anyhoo, he decorated his house will all of the art he collected from his travels and when he died he told them to make it into a museum. We saw some Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and a bunch of other really cool pieces. It was sweet because the museum left everything the way Brady originally had it. It was basically like taking a tour of a really cool house rather than visiting a museum.

Alright folks, that's just a quick sum up of whats been going on here. I have to run to class, but I hope you all are doing wonderful. Miss you all.

Auntie J, I hope you are having a blast on your cruise!

Promise the other posts will be a little more insightful, I just wanted to catch you guys up on whats been going on.

I'm loving Cuernavaca and I am learning a ton about the history of Latin America and the Mexican culture.

Love you all!

Un besote,

Court.

Adventure Numero Dos (Number two)

Hey Everyone,
Just wanted to let you all know that I'll be posting regularly again here in about a month. I'm taking off for Mexico on the 16th of May and will be there until I have to be back in class in September. The blog will be one way for me to keep in touch and let you know where I'm at and what I'm up to.
Hope you all are doing wonderful.
Until then.
Court

University Life and the first goodbye

Posting a couple pics now and explaining them later along with post on what`s been going on this week. Love you all and wishing you a wonderful week!!!! Besos--Court

chips or chunks??

Hey all! Hope everyone had a great start to their week. My Monday was fun. Hung out with Emily (US) on her last full day here :( We met up at the U and then went to her house for her going away lunch. What she didn´t know though was her Mom had invited the exchangers, family, friends and an andean musical group to play for us. The group was sooo good! Jajaja and it was so fun, her Mom pulled her up to dance to the traditional peruvian music as her brother and his friends pushed back chairs and couches to make space for the dance floor. Two seconds later we were all up on our feet dancing. Her Mom and her brother´s friends were amazing dancers. The guy was like 16 and amaaazing (later his dad came and then I learned where he got it from)! It was incredible watching him and even funner dancing with him, trying to wing it and not look ridiculous. Later we had a delicious lunch of aji de gallina, cake and icecream. We had fun chatting, her Mom gave a super sweet speech about Emi and then I had to run to the airport to say goodbye to Gabi (mi brasilera). After the airport I spent some time with friends and then headed home after a long day.
Today I went and said my goodbyes to Ems at the airport with everyone. Emi if you are reading this I hope you had un buen viaje y q estés divertiendot muxo en Maine con tu familia y tus amigos!!!! Manda saludos d mi parte!
After that the exchangers went out and grubbed on empanadas, went to buy food in the super and then I went home and gave my best attempt at chocolate chip cookies without having chocolate chips and they turned out mas o menos (okay). Mom, I tried to do you proud, I did my best, but I miss yours! Agh, my lovely American food, how I miss you! Don´t get me wrong the food here is excellent, but after a year of being away I´m starting to get cravings for random things like blizzards, peanut butter, good mexican food, anything home cooked from la mami y el papi, bbq US style, veggies (they don´t eat a whole lotta veggies here and almost nothing raw), the fruit they don´t have here like berries and good peaches, nectarines and much more. Gah, I know when I get home though I´m gonna have cravings for my Peruvian food!! Being an exchange student you get pulled in two different directions at all times, your at home and you miss your other home, you miss you friends, you finally see them and you miss your ones from exchange, the food you thought you were getting tired of you want back and on and on and on. Sigh, la vida de la intercambista =S
Ok, ok, now for the fun part...more pictures! These are from my awesome trip to Cotahuasi Canyon with my sis, her aussie and my wonderfuls, Kevin and Anika. Enjoy! Ok, I lied, it´s not letting me post fotos right now but I´ll try again maybe tomorrow. Bedtime! Love you all tons! Take care and have an awesome week!! Miiiiissing you!